What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
No key ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningEthylhexyl Acrylate/Methyl Methacrylate Copolymer
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Ammonium Acrylate
Acrylates/Octylacrylamide Copolymer
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Beheneth-30
CleansingDisodium EDTA
CI 77266
Cosmetic ColorantPolyglyceryl-3 Disiloxane Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Methylparaben
Preservative
Propylparaben
Preservative
CI 77499
Cosmetic ColorantFerric Chloride
AstringentSodium Polyaspartate
HumectantTriethanolamine
BufferingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingWater, Ethylhexyl Acrylate/Methyl Methacrylate Copolymer, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Alcohol Denat., Ammonium Acrylate, Acrylates/Octylacrylamide Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Beheneth-30, Disodium EDTA, CI 77266, Polyglyceryl-3 Disiloxane Dimethicone, Aminomethyl Propanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, CI 77499, Ferric Chloride, Sodium Polyaspartate, Triethanolamine, Sodium Hydroxide
Water
Skin ConditioningAmmonium Acrylates Copolymer
2,3-Butanediol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
PPG-30 Butyl Ether
Skin ConditioningMethylparaben
Preservative
Ethylparaben
Preservative
Aminomethyl Propanol
BufferingSilicon
Abrasive
Sorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Sorbitan Palmate
Emollient
Hydrogenated Palm Oil
Emollient
Sorbitan Oleate
Emulsifying
Sucrose Palmitate
EmollientCI 77266
Cosmetic Colorant
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
1,2-Hexanediol is a synthetic liquid and another multi-functional powerhouse.Ā
It is a:
- Humectant, drawing moisture into the skin
- Emollient, helping to soften skin
- Solvent, dispersing and stabilizing formulas
- Preservative booster, enhancing the antimicrobial activity of other preservativesĀ
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Aminomethyl Propanol is used to adjust the pH of products. It is also used as a base to create other organic compounds. Having a balanced pH is important for protecting your skin.
Aminomethyl propanol is safe to use in cosmetics up to 1%. It is soluble in water.
Methylparaben is a preservative and is a paraben. It is used to prevent the growth of fungus, mold, and other harmful bacteria. Parabens are chemicals used as preservatives in both cosmetics and food.
Methylparaben can be synthetically created. It can also be found naturally in some fruits, such as blueberries.
Oftentimes, Methylparaben is combined with other parabens to help increase the shelf life.
The safety of Methylparaben is currently being studied. While ongoing studies are looking into the safety of parabens, the results have been very mixed. Some studies have not found Methylparaben to be harmful.
Learn more about MethylparabenPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterCI 77266 is a high-purity pigment used to create an intense black color in cosmetics. It is made up of fine particles of pure carbon. This ingredient is also often listed as Carbon Black in ingredient lists.
You'll likely find this ingredient in mascaras, eyeliners, brow products, and eye shadow.
In the US, this ingredient can only be used if it meets strict FDA specifications. Certain versions even require batch-by-batch certification after extensive safety evaluation.
In the European Union, this ingredient is permitted as a colorant and classified as a "nanomaterial" based on its particle size (meaning it requires deeper assessment).
The EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) has reviewed nano-sized carbon black specifically and concluded that it does not pose a risk to human health when used in cosmetic products applied to healthy, intact skin and formulated to avoid inhalation.
Studies support this regulatory stance. Laboratory studies on nano-carbon black show potential for cytotoxicity and inflammatory effects in immune cells; it is important to highlight these findings are based on in vitro (not done on a living organism) testing or inhalation scenarios rather than normal topical cosmetic use.
Occupational studies involving industrial workers exposed to airborne carbon black have not shown a clear link between cumulative exposure and cancer risk. These findings are not directly applicable to cosmetics; cosmetic formulations bind pigments within creams, gels, and liquids that are not inhaled.
Overall, evidence shows that this ingredient is safe under regulatory guidelines and purity standards, especially when formulated to avoid airborne exposure.
Even with regulatory approval and a long history of use, some consumers might prefer to avoid ingredients that are petroleum-derived or that fall under the ānanomaterialā category.
Choosing whether to use CI 77266 isnāt necessarily about safety alone; it can also be about personal philosophy, comfort level with synthetic versus natural ingredients, and how much weight you place on ongoing research and regulatory oversight.
Makeup is highly individual, and personal preference plays an important role in deciding what feels right for you.
Learn more about CI 77266
